How Parkinson's disease is treated at the Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital Movement Disorders Clinic
What is Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive disorder that affects the nervous system, specifically the dopamine-producing cells in the brain. The condition is characterized by tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with coordination and movement. Parkinson's disease can make it difficult to perform everyday tasks such as dressing, grooming, and cooking. It causes problems with balance and gait, making it difficult to walk and increasing the risk of falls. Emotional problems include depression, anxiety, dependence and loneliness, and isolation. Finally. Social life is disrupted due to embarrassment which can be due to tremor, walking difficulty, poor co-ordination etc. These symptoms lead to a loss of independence and a reduced quality of life. For people with Parkinson and movement disorders, Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital provides world class medical expertise and a state of the art facility for the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of their disease.
What are the Common Symptoms of Parkinson's disease?
- Motor Symptoms of Parkinson's disease: Tremors, especially in the hands and fingers. Bradykinesia (slow movement). Muscular stiffness. Postural instability causes balance concerns and falls.
- Non-motor Symptoms of Parkinson's disease: Sleep disorders. Cognitive impairment, or dementia. Depression and anxiety. Constipation and fluctuations in blood pressure are examples of autonomic dysfunction.
What Is the Best Way to Manage Parkinson's Disease?
While there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, effective management measures can dramatically enhance patients' quality of life. The optimum strategy is to combine medical treatment, lifestyle changes, therapy, and supportive care based on the individual's symptoms and needs.
1. Medications for Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease management relies heavily on medications. This includes:
- Levodopa-Carbidopa: It is the most effective medicine for replenishing dopamine levels in the brain.
- Dopamine Agonists: Drugs that mimic the effects of dopamine (for example, pramipexole and ropinirole).
- MAO-B Inhibitors: Lowers dopamine breakdown (e.g., selegiline, rasagiline).
- COMT Inhibitors: Increase the effectiveness of levodopa (e.g., entacapone).
- Amantadine: Treats dyskinesia (involuntary motions).
- Anticholinergics: Reduces tremors and rigidity.
Medications must be carefully customized, monitored, and modified over time to address illness progression and side effects.
2. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
DBS is a surgical treatment option for severe Parkinson's disease. It entails implanting electrodes in specific brain regions to manage aberrant signals. It can help with motor symptoms, but it is not appropriate for everyone.
3. Botulinum Toxin Injections
Botulinum toxin injections may help with symptoms such as drooling and muscle tightness.
4. Physical Therapy
It focuses on increasing mobility, strength, and balance. Stretching, gait training, and balance exercises are crucial.
5. Occupational Therapy
Helps patients maintain their independence by teaching adaptive ways for daily chores like dressing, eating, and bathing.
6. Speech & Language Therapy
Addresses speech impairments, swallowing problems, and communication hurdles.
7. Regular exercise
Exercise is essential for treating Parkinson's disease. Benefits include increased flexibility, strength, balance, and mental wellness. Effective exercises include:
- Aerobic activities (such as walking, cycling, and swimming).
- Resistance training helps to increase muscle strength.
- Yoga and Tai Chi promote balance and relaxation.
8. Dietary Adjustments For Parkinson’s Disease
A well-balanced diet can help alleviate symptoms and enhance overall health. Include foods high in antioxidants (such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts). Increase your fiber and hydration intake to help with constipation. Protein intake should be carefully planned to avoid interfering with levodopa absorption.
9. Sleep hygiene
Keeping a steady sleep routine. Creating a relaxing nighttime ritual. Using therapy or medicine to treat sleep disorders.
10. Advanced Parkinson’s Disease Care Strategies
In advanced stages, more intense support may be required.
- Palliative Care: focuses on providing comfort, treating severe symptoms, and improving quality of life.
- Caregiver Support: Caregivers require training and tools to provide the best care possible.
Parkinson's diseases treatment in Mumbai is at Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital
- Medications: Levodopa, dopamine agonists, and MAO-B inhibitors increase the dopamine levels in the brain, which can help to reduce tremors and improve coordination and movement.
- Physical therapy: Physical therapy can help people with Parkinson's disease to address issues of unsteadiness and reduce the risk of falls:
- Exercise: Specifically designed exercises help to maintain strength, flexibility, and balance and reduce the risk of falls.
- Gait training: exercises to improve the speed and smoothness of gait, as well as strategies for better balance.
- Posture and body mechanics: This includes exercises to improve alignment and balance, and strategies to maintain good posture throughout the day.
- Speech therapy: Speech therapy can help people with Parkinson's disease to improve their speech and swallowing abilities.
- Nutrition therapy: Nutrition therapy can help people with Parkinson's disease to maintain a healthy diet and to manage any swallowing difficulties that may occur. Parkinson's disease treatment is available at the Dr. L H Hiranandani hospital in Mumbai with the best Parkinson's doctors. At Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital, medical experts and innovative facilities provide the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease.
- Multidisciplinary team: A team of healthcare professionals, including neurologist, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and social workers work together to provide comprehensive care.
- Medication management: medication management which includes adjusting and monitoring the dosage and timing of medications to give maximum benefits and minimum side effects.
- Botulinum toxin: Certain Movement Disorders or their manifestations respond well to botulinum toxin
- Beyond Parkinson’s: Dystonia, tremor, imbalance, tics, chorea, young-onset movement disorders and drug induced movement disorders, atypical Parkinson’s and many such diseases are treated at our Movement Disorders Clinic. The same patient may have multiple movement disorders at the same time.
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation: We offer physical therapy and rehabilitation programs, to help people you maintain your strength, flexibility, and balance, and to improve your ability to perform everyday tasks.
- Education and support: Information about the condition, strategies for managing symptoms, and resources for support groups are discussed with the patient and his family.
- Your family multispecialty hospital: Patients with Parkinson's disease may have additional issues related to heart, digestion, urination, joints, diabetes or sometimes psychiatric disturbance. Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital has a crew of doctors spanning each and every super specialty. This ensures that all your health concerns are addressed under one roof. Call the Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital if you experience similar signs or symptoms
What Happens If Parkinson's Disease Is Untreated?
This condition affects the whole person, including their movement, verbal, cognitive, and social abilities. This can result in falls in the home and community, social isolation, the capacity to age in place at home, and participation in meaningful activities. There is no cure for this disease, but there are strategies to manage it.
Untreated, Parkinson's disease worsens with time. Parkinson's disease can cause impairment of all brain functions, as well as premature death. In contrast, most treated Parkinson's disease patients have normal to near-normal life expectancy.
How long can you live with Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease does not immediately cause death, but it can put a strain on the body and make some people more susceptible to serious and life-threatening diseases.
However, thanks to breakthroughs in treatments for Parkinson’s disease, majority of the people with Parkinson's disease today live normal or near-normal life expectancy.
